What a Man, Supertalent & Oktoberfest

A German movie still has the biggest impact on the German music chart. It is very successful What A Man – the comedy by and with new German darling Matthias Schweighöfer. So far one and a half million people watched the movie – it is still Number 4 at the movie charts after one months in theatres. Inside the singles chart three songs of the soundtrack appear. At Number 1 Marlon Roudette still stands. It is the sixth week at the top for New Age. Last male artist holding six weeks at the top was Bruno Mars who went Number 1 with grenade back in March and April. Due to the fact he had a two weeks break in his Number 1 run when Lady Gaga stormed to the top with her Born This Way the last male act spending six consecutive weeks at the top spot was Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’ole almost exactly one year ago. Over The Rainbow just disappeared out of the German list last week. It spent a whole 54 weeks in the charts.

The highest new entry at the German single’s chart is also related to the movie. It is the fresh released CD single Eiserner Steg by German singer Philipp Poisel. Like the number 1 track this one is a ballad too talking about how life could go on after a split. The previously unreleased track ends up with the demand of a last moment together.

Entering the German list at Number 21 it is the most successful single of Philip Poisel. So far he had two minor hits never reaching the upper half of the list. This song could be the breakthrough reigning him in a line with young and successful German singer songwriters like Tim Bendzko or Andreas Bourani.



Lena’s version on What A Man tumbles down the list 48 – 65 in its fourth chart week.

Hitmaker number 2 is newly aired Das Supertalent (German version of Britain’s Got Talent). Last week it was You Raise Me Up which found its way back into the list after being performed inside the TV show. This week it is Mama Do originally recorded by British Pixie Lott. The track had a 9 weeks chart run in 2009 climbing to Number 37 – not really a big success compared to the Number.1 run it had in Great Britain. Anyway – 13 years old Marlene Wenzig chose the song for performing at the show. Her applicating version available at youtube is of course only half that convincing like her singing on stage. Right after her performance the original shot back in the iTunes charts and finally can gain position 30 at the whole week survey. It is the highest ranking the song ever reached in Germany.


Hitmaking event number 3: the seasonal Oktoberfest. It is the chance for promoting Mallorca hits from last summer again. One of the surprising Schlager/Discofox hits of the year so far was I sing a Liad für dich (I Sing A Song For You -– in a very regional kind of spelling) by Austrian Andreas Gabalier. The single was a hit in his home country already summer 2010. The German audience first noticed it in March, when Carmen Nebel presented the young singer in her TV show. I sing a Liad für dich immediately hit the charts. It was a short visit cause the single was not available officially. It took the company till late July to launch the CD version. Last week the version by Andreas Gaballier rose to number 63 – the peak so far. This recent week the song climbs up 3 further places. Additionaly there is a new version entering the list offered by big Austrian Schlager star DJ Ötzi. Of course that new version of DJ Ötzi is much more a commercially produced tune. If one can find the song of Andreas Gabalier somehow authentic and candid – the recording of DJ Ötzi is completely calculated. It is just a song meaning nothing – all he needs is the beat and a melody. Even his outfit worn at the video tells you: that’s not the real live of DJ Ötzi – it is a costume.

The market again rewards the more obliging production. DJ Ötzi’s version enters the list at number 35. Honestly I suspected much more – seems the Schlager genre needs a little break or a re-invention.